Charles m



(No Model.)

C. M. GBARING.

APPARATUS FOR THB MANUPAGTURE OF GAS.

PatentedApr. 16, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. GEARING, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS LIGGETT, CHARLES M. CLARKE, ROBERT S. FRAZER, AND ALEX. M.

NEEPER, ALL OF SAME PLAGE.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,342, dated April 16, 1889.

Application'fxled September 25, 1888. Serial No. 286,337. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. GEARING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg,in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas, of which the following is a specification, the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacture of fixed gases, to be used for heating and illuminating purposes, from petroleum, other oil, or other liquid hydrocarbon, and (moistened) superheated air; and it consists in a machine having a series of retorts with suitable connections, one or more of which being superheaters, the others of the series gas-generating, a furnace in which the saine are placed, an air-injector operated by steam, a condenser through which t-he air is passed to extract the steam injecting it,which condenser is combined or not with a washer when the gas is used for illuminating or fuel purposes, respectively, for purifying the gas, as hereinafter described, both condenser and washer having suitable connections, and an oil-connection feeding from a reservoir so elevated above point of connection with machine as to cause the oil or other hydrocarbon to pass into the machine from the pressure thus' given to it; also, in the improved method of construction of said machine,which consists in so arranging the retorts with reference to the furnace that the flames therefrom never playdirectly upon them, but they are heated by radiation and conduction from the surrounding parts; also, the construction of the furnace itself, which effects a great saving in the fuel necessary to heat it, and an economical and even distribution of the heat generated from the consumption of said fuel in said furnace; also, the combined condenser and washer, by means of which the steam is extracted from the air before the same enters the retorts and the gas is washed and purified as it emerges from t-he machine, the same supply of water accomplishing both operations, the whole of my improved apparatus contributing to the production of a gas applicable for heating or illuminating purposes, as hereinafter described.

The object of my invention is to produce a fixed gas from air and hydrocarbons in a cheaper and more effective manner than heretofore by means ofa machine simple in con'-4 55 struction, effective in operation, low in cost, of great durability by reason of the protection afforded its retorts,l and capable of such regulation as to produce gases of any desired quality for heating or illuminating purposes. 6o

`I am aware that heating and illuminating gases have been manufactured from hydrocarbons, in connection with steam and air, by passing mixtures of the same through a retort or series of retorts directly exposed to 6 5 the flames and heat from a furnace connected therewith, thereby causing, by reason of the indiscriminate distribution of the heat from said furnace, uneven heating of said retort or retorts, and resulting in their quickly burn- 7o ing out, breaking down and consequent stoppage of the machine. So great has been the difficulty in this respect as to render almost impracticable the operation of such machines on account of economy and` irregularity of operation. A further difcultyis experienced in operating those machines in which the air is forced through the retorts by means of an injector by steam-pressure from the fact that the steam passing in varies so widely in quantity and quality as to render the production of a gasof uniform quality almost an impossibility. These difficulties my present invention overcomes, by reason of the improved construction of the apparatus and the extraction of the steam by condensation before passing the air through its retorts, as above noted and hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l shows the front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical crosssection of furnace on line y y, Fig. 2; Fig. i, a longitudinal section on line .t of Fig. 1 of furnace; Eig. 5, a partial rear elevation to show oil-connection; Fig. G, a partial section of washer and showing the condenser, and Fig. 7 a section of filter in oil-pipe.

Like figures refer to like parts throughout.

In Fig. 1, 1 represents afurnace constructed of brick-work, as follows: The foundations being laid, the walls are carried up, leaving a space in the middle extending through the TOO furnace from front to back for a fire-box, in which the grate-bars 2 are set at sufficient height to vprovide for removal of ashes, &c. At or slightly above the level of grate-bars 2 air-ports 3 3, which connect with an air-passage, 3', leading to opening in the front and rear walls of the furnace, are led into the fire-box.

Immediately above air-ports 3 is a series of ports, 4 4, and above these another series of ports, 5 5, both of which lead into chamber 6, which is arched, ports 5 having on their lower sides a beveled tile or brick for the purpose of throwing the flames-in an upward direction and away from retort 7, the construction-ports 4 conducing to the same result. Retort 7 is placed upon fire-brick or tile and within chamber 6. In arch of chamber 6 a double series of ports, 8 8, are placed, each equal in number to series 4 and 5, and are inclined to the right and left of Vertical line for the purpose of preventing the fiames from directly striking retort 9, which is placed in chamber 10 in same manner as 7 is fixed in 6. The same construction prevails on both sides of the fire-box, as described, and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The fire-box is arched at 11, and this, with the arch of chamber 6 and its duplicate on the other side of lire-box, form the floor of chamber 10. From the top of these arches the walls of the furnaces are carried up, and at a suitable height arch 12 is sprung across the top of the furnace and forms the roof of chamber 10. Through arch 12 two pairs of ports, 13, (or one large port,) are constructed at the front and back ends of chamber 10, which connect in one flue, 13', extending entirely across the top of the furnace,and connecting with thesmokestack or chimney 14. Ports 13 are placed inthe position described for the purpose of equally distributing. the heat in chamber 1Q, carrying the same yto the top,and both ends thereof from all the ports entering it and away from the retorts placed therein. Immediately below the stack 14 a damper, 15, is placed for regulating the draft. In chamber 10 retorts 16 vand 1-7 are placed on the arch 11 of the firebox, in which there are no ports, in the same manner as retorts 6 and 9 are put in their respective places. The chambers, flues, ports, fire-box, and supports of retorts are made of fire-brick, tile, or other refractory material.

Flue 13 is constructed on top of arch 12, the

is'led through the walls of the furnace from the back of the same to a point near the front where pipe 20 enters. AThe noise of the air entering the injector is deadened by passing through this passage, wherein it is also heated to some degree.'

From the washer 21 a pipe, 22, is led to the front of the furnace, where its branches are introduced into air-passages 3' 3', and nipples 22 are led from said branches into the firebox to conduct gas into the same for heating purposes, the gas flowing into the firebox under pressure causes a current of air in passages 3 3' and a mixture of the air-current and gas at the mouths of ports 3 3, thereby intensifying the combustion. The retorts are made of cast-iron, are flanged at their ends, and fitted with flange unions and the ordinary gas-fittings in the well-known manner. They are connected to one another as follows, viz: The front end, 7 to condenser by pipe 35. The rear end of 7 is connected by' a pipe, 23, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1,) to

rear end of 7 the front end of 7 to front end of 9 by pipe 24; the rear end of 9 to rear end of 16 by pipe 25, Fig. 5; the front end of 16 to front end, 17, by pipe 26 the rear end of 17 to rear end, 9', by pipe 27, and the front end of 9' to washer by pipe 28. The number of retorts vary in machines of different capacities, and the connections vary with the number of retorts, and also the number of those retorts used for superheating and gas-generating' purposes, respectively.

At the rear of the furnace and elevated above its point of connection therewith is a receptacle, 29, for the hydrocarbon. This is connected by a pipe, 30, bent, as shown, to form a seal to keep the air under pressure within the machine. The pipe is tapped into the nipple leading into the iirst retort used for gas-generating purposes, (here 9,) retort 7 being used for superheating purposes, as hereinafter described. Pipe 30 is provided with a suitable cock, 31, and a filter, 32, which is connected between cock 31 and receptacle 29, for the purpose of arresting any solid impurities in the hydrocarbon before they arrive at cock 30.4 Filter 32 is formed by inserting a union in pipe 30, and in that union placing strainer 33, Fig. 7, the purpose being to render the extracting of any solid impurities from the pipe easy and prompt by shutting off the supply of hydrocarbon, unscrewin g the union, taking out the impurities, and restoring lthe union without delay and expense or troublesome fitting operations. The retorts are filled with spalls of fire-brick or other refractory material for the purpose of retarding the passage of the gases through them, and at the same time affording greater heating-surface to the same. (See Figs. 3, 7, 9, and 16.)

The condenser is formed of pipes 34, connected by means of return -bends These pipes so connected are placed in lower part of cylinder or washer 21, so as to be always under water when the machine is operating. The inlet of the condenser is connected to injector 36, the outlet to pipe 35, which leads therefrom to T 35' ,to which is connected gooseneck 37, through which the water arising from condensed steam is drained, and pipe 35, which affords a path for the air to retort 7', and thence through the machine.

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The pipes 34 are attached at their two free ends by locknuts to head of cylinder 21, and are thus held in position in connection With any suitable support which may be placed under them. Cylinder 21 has also connected to it, at its front head, pipe 22, through which gas is supplied to the furnace. The condenser thus consists of pipes 34,'submerged in water in any vessel of suitable size, means being supplied to constantly change the water when the machine is generating gas-in this case inlet 3S and outlet 39as hereinafter described in connection with washer.

The washer may be anyT water-tight vessel having the pipes and connections herein described. In the drawings it is shown as cylinder 21, made of metal, and having at its rear end a water-inlet, 3S, to which is connected a pipe leading to any Water-supply with sufficient head to cause a constant flow of water through the same, a water-outlet, 39, to which is connected the goose-neck 40, through which drains the waste wat-er, the functions of goosenecks 37 and et() being to form water seals to prevent the escape of air or gas through any but proper outlets from condenser or washer, respectively. At rear end is also connected a gas-inlet, 41, from the machine. This consists of a pipe, 42, which is fastened to the head of Washer by lock-nuts, and which is provided with three longitudinal slots, 43, which,when pipe i2 is in position, are under the waterlevel, the outlet 39 being so placed that its lower edge is slightly' above the highest slot in 42, so that the gas passing into washer must pass through the water contained in it in doing so.

To the top of the washer is fixed, by locknuts, a pipe, 44, which has a valve, 45, from which the generated for illuminating purposes is passed to a holder or to the point of consumption. Burners e6 and 47 are placed, respectively, in pipes and 28, for testing purposes.

Valve 4S is placed in pipe 28 for the purpose of conducting to the point of consumption or storage gas made for fuel purposes, said gas not passing through the water in 21 for the purpose of being washed, it being more available for the purpose of its use at the temperature at which it issues from pipe 28. y

In operating my invention those retorts connected between the outlet of the condenser and the point at which the hydrocarbon is introduced are used as superheaters, nothing but air injected by the injector passing' through them. Here but one, 7 is shown used as suclnthe remaining retorts in the series being used for generating gas, the mixture of the hydrocarbon and the air passing through the saine, the number of retorts and superheaters varying with the size and capacity of each machine. After the retorts are brought to a proper heat-about a cherryred-by means of tiring, the steam which may be procured from any source is turned. on,

and by action of the injector air mixed with steam is forced into the condenser, which is surrounded by water in the washer, placed therein prior to turning on steam. The steam passing through the condenser is condensed, and the water resulting therefrom passes off through Water seal 37, as described, leaving the air in proper condition and free to pass to superheater 7 by path already indicated. Passing through superheater'7', it meets the hydrocarbon just before it enters retort 9, and, the hydrocarbon or oil being turned on,is allowed to trickle into the current of air by force of gravity or under slight head from pressure exerted by any suitable means. The air, after passing through 7 is highly heated, and, meeting the hydrocarbon or oil,immediately vaporizes and intermingles with the same, there being no excess of moisture or steam to prevent or hinder such intermingling. This mixture then passes on to gas-retorts, which must be of sufficiently high temperature--a bright cherry-red-about 1,200o to 1,500O Fahrenheit, to decompose the vaporized hydrocarbon when its constituent parts are combined with the hydrogen and oxygen of the air and steam, and is therein roasted and transformed into a truly-fixed gas bythe action of the heat derived from the retorts and the packing in them contained, which impedes a too quick passage of the mixture, and at the same time presents a large heating-surface thereto. Passing from the retorts, the gas, now fixed by the pressure eX- erted by the injector, is forced through the water in the washer, and is ready for consumption or storage. The gas may be turned on in the furnace for heating the same in the manner hereinbefore indicated.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the number of retorts herein shown and described, or as fixing that number, or the number used as retort-s and superheaters, respectively, as the number to be absolutely used in machines constructed upon the principles of my invention, but ratherthat the number of retorts and the number used as retorts and superheaters, respectively, must vary as the capacity demanded of the machinery and the quality of gas desired to be manufactured to get the best results. Y

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for manufacturing gases for heating and illuminating purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, a furnace combined with a series of retorts having suitable connections, one or more of the series being used as superheaters, the others as gas-generators, an injector operated by steam, an elevated receptacle for said hydrocarbon having a pipe connecting between the last superheating and first gas-generating retort, and a condenser connected between said injector and first superheating-retort for the purpose of injecting air through said retorts, extracting the steam therefrom by means of said condenser .lOO

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before the same reaches said first super-heating-retort to bring the same to a proper condition to combine with said hydrocarbon and form a gas, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for manufacturing gases for heating and illuminating purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, a furnace combined with a series of retorts having suitable connections, one or more of the series being used as superheaters, the others as gas-generators, an injector operated by steam, an elevated receptacle for said hydrocarbon having a pipe connecting between the last superheater and the first gas-generating retort, a condenser connected between said injector and the first superheating-retort, and a washer connected to the last gas-generating retort for the purpose of injecting air through said retorts, extracting the steam therefrom by means of said condenser before the same reaches the first superheating-retort to bring the same to a proper condition to combine with said hydrocarbon and form and purify a gas, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for manufacturing gases for heating and illuminating purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, a furnace combined with a series of retorts having suitable connections, all packed with fragments of a heat-conducting non-fusible refractory material, one or more of said series being used as superheaters, the others as gas-generating retorts, an injector operated by steam, an elevated receptacle for said hydrocarbon having a pipe connecting between the last superheating and the first gas-generating retort, and a condenser connected between said injector and the said first superheating-retort for the purpose of injecting air through said retorts, extracting the steam therefrom by means of said condenser before the same reaches Vsaid first superheating-retort to bring the same to a proper condition to combine with said hydrocarbon and form a gas, substantially as described. f

4. In an apparatus for manufacturing gases for heating and illuminating purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, a furnace combined with a series of retorts having suitable connections, all packed with fragments of a heat-conducting non-fusible refractory material, one or more of said series being used as superheating, the others as gas-generating retorts, an injector operated by steam, an elevated receptacle for said hydrocarbon having a pipe connecting between the last superheating and the first gas-generating retort, a condenser connected between said injector and the first superheating-retort, and a washer connected to the last gas-generating retort for the purpose of injecting air through said retorts, extracting the steam therefrom before the same reaches said first superheatingturing gases for heating and illuminating purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, having an arched fire-box, an arched chamber containinga retort on both sides thereof, each of said chambers connecting thereto by two series of ports at different levels, the ports of the upper series being inclined upward on the bottom and having in their arches. two series of ports divergin g from each other and from a vertical line, and a third chamber the floor of which is formed of the arches of the fire-box and said chambers on both sides thereof, the roof thereof being formed of an arch sprung across the top of the furnace and having ports at its front and rear ends connecting with a flue extending longitudinally on top of the same, having a damper for the purpose of preventing the fiames and heat from playing directly upon the retorts contained therein and evenly distributing the same, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for manufacturing gases for heating and illuminating purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, a combined condenser and washer having a watervessel provided with an inlet, an outlet provided with a water seal, a gas-inlet with opening below the water-level and a gas-outlet above the same, a condensing-coil fixedtherein below the water-level and having an inlet for air and steam and an outlet provided with a Water seal, through which is drained condensation from the condensing-coil, and a connection to conductthe moist air therefrom, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. A furnace in an apparatus for manufacturing gases for heating and illuminating purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, having an arched fire-box, an arched chamber containing a retort on both sides thereof, each of said chambers connecting thereto by two series of ports at different levels, the ports of the upper series being inclined upward on the bottom and having in their arches two series of ports diverging from each other and from a vertical line, a third chamber the floor of which is formed of the arches of the firebox and said chambers on both sides thereof, the roof thereof being formed of an arch sprung across the top of the furnace and having ports at its front and rear ends connecting with a fiue extending longitudinally on top of the same, having a damper for the purpose of preventing the fiames and heat from playing directly upon the retorts contained therein and evenly distributing the same, combined with a series of retorts having suitable connections, one or more. of the series being used as superheaters, the others as gasgenerators, an injector operated by steam, an elevated receptacle for said hydrocarbon having a pipe connecting between the last superheating and first gas-generating retort, and a condenser connected between said injector and first superheating-retort for the purpose of injecting air through said retorts, extract- IOO IIO

ing the steam therefrom by means of said condenser before the same reaches said first superbeating-retort to bring the same to a proper condition to combine with said hydrocarbon and forni a gas, substantially as described.

S. A furnace in an apparatus for manufacturing gases for heating and illuminating' purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, having an arched fire-boX, an arched chamber containing a retort on both sides thereof, each of said chambers connecting thereto by two series of ports at differentlevels, the ports of the upper series being inclined upward on the bottom and having in their arches two series of ports diverging from each other and from a vertical line, a third chamber the floor of which is formed of the arches of the fire-.box and said chambers on both sides thereof, the roof thereof being formed of an arch sprung across the top of the furnace and having ports at its front and rear ends connecting with a flue extending longitudinally on top of the same, having a damper for the purpose of preventing the flames and heat from playing directly upon the retorts contain ed therein and evenly distributing the same, combined with a series of retorts having suitable connections, all packed with fragments of a heat-conducting non-fusible re fractory material, one or more of said series being used as superheaters, the others as gasgenerating retorts, an injector operated by steam, an elevated receptacle for said hydrocarbon having a pipe connecting between the last superheating and the iirst gas-generating retort, and a condenser connected between said injector and the said iirst superheating-retort for the purpose of injecting air through said retorts, extracting the steam therefrom by means of said condenser before the same` reaches said first superheatingretort" to bring the same to a proper condition to combine with said hydrocarbon and'form a gas, substantially as described.

9. A furnace in an apparatus for manufacturing gases for heating and illuminating purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, having an arched fire-box, an arched chamber containing a retort on both sides thereof, each of said chambers connecting thereto by two series of ports at different levels, the ports of the upper series being inclined upward on the bottom and having in their arches ltwo series of ports diverging from each other and from a vertical line, a third chamber the floor of which is formed of the arches of the hre-box and said chambers on both sides thereof, the roof thereof being formed of an arch sprung across the top of the furnace and having ports at its front and rear ends connecting with. a flue extending longitudinally on top of the same, having a damper for the purpose of prevent-ing the flames and heat from playing` directly upon the retorts contained therein and evenly distributing the same, combined With a series of retorts having suitable connections, one or more of t-he series being used as superheaters, the others as gas-generators, an injector operated by steam, an elevated receptacle for said hydrocarbon having a pipe connecting between the last superheater and the first gas-generating retort, a condenser connected between said injectorl and the first superheating-retort, and a Washer connected to the last gas-generating retort for the purpose of inj eeting air through said retorts, extracting the steam therefrom by means of said condenser before the same'reaches the first superheating-retort to bring the same to a proper condition to combine with said hydrocarbon and form and purify a gas, substantially as described. l

10. A furnace in an apparatus for manufacturing gases for heating and illuminating purposes from a liquid hydrocarbon and air, having an arched fire-box, an arched chamber containing a retort on both sides thereof, each of said chambers connecting thereto by two series of ports at different levels, the ports of the upper series being inclined upward on the bottom and having in their' arches two series of ports diverging from each other and from a vertical line, a thirdchan1ber the floor of which is formed of the arches of the fire-box and said chambers on both sides thereof, the roof thereof being formed of an arch sprung across the top of the furnace andhaving ports at its front and rear ends connecting With a flue extending longitudinally on top of the same,having a damper for the purpose of preventing the llames and heat from playing directly upon the retorts contained therein and evenly distributing the same, combined with aseriesof retorts having suitable connections, all packed with fragments of a heat-conducting non -fusible refractory material, one or more of said series being used as superheating, the other as gas-generating, retorts, an injector operated by steam, an elevated recep- IIO tacle for said hydrocarbon having a pipe connectine,` between the last superheating and the first gas-generating retort, a condenser connected between said injector and the rst superheati11g-retort, and a Washer connected to the last gas-generating retort for the purpose of injecting air through said retorts, extracting the steam therefrom before the same reaches said first superheating-retort to bring the same to a proper condition to combine with said hydrocarbon to form and purify a gas, substantially as described.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of September, A. D. 1888.

i CHARLES M. GEARING. Xitnesses:

WILLIAM BEAL,

A. M. NEEPER. 

